Hi, I'm currently on my industrial year and due to return to university in September to finish my Medical Sciences degree. Upon completion of this, I'm very interested in doing a PhD in cancer biology.
The thing is...I have no real idea of what life is like when doing a PhD? I mean is it very similar to doing a degree or more like full time work? Also...what is the funding like? ie how much is it on average and is it enough to live comfortably for three years? If anyone out there is currently in the process of doing a PhD, i'd really appreciate a little insight into what life is like!
I know many graduates insist on going straight into full time work, however I think i'd benefit more in the long term to further my education in a more specific field? Is this true?
Please help!!

Hey! Well i do clinical psychology and work with people with Alzheimer's, but can answer some of your more general questions! A PhD is very different from an undergrad (or masters) degree. Basically you do a 3 year research project and write a large thesis of up to 100k words (although this varies a bit from topic to topic and uni to uni). I treat my PhD like a full time job. All PhD students in my department have an office, and I tend to work about 9-6pm weekdays, and evenings and weekends if & when required. It can be hard work, especially if you want to get your work published and go to conferences and are committed to teaching (many PhD students have to do some teaching as part of their funding agreement), but it's possible to have a life as well! I still manage to see my boyfriend and my mates, and do my daily exercise and generally have fun! Funding can very, but if you get funding from a research council you're probably looking at around £14k per year (tax free). In my experience it's enough to get by on with a bit of planning (and a bit of help from one's parents in my case!), but luxuries are few and far between, and I live in one of the cheapest areas of the UK! Can't tell you much about the relevance of a PhD in your field, but in mine it's essential for a career in research. There will probably be someone here who can advise you better on that! Hope that helped a bit! KB

Hello. I can also answer some of the general questions. A PhD is not like a degree. It is like a masters degree if you have done it by research with no (or very limited) taught components as I am finding it very similar to the MSc I did. In my opinion you can look at it as flexi-time full time work which you love. Meaning that no one is running after me to stay form 9-5. But I try to do those hours. However sometimes I can just leave at 3pm as I do not see myself being productive and then work from home in the evenings or weekend...you have to be disciplined. Re funding...it depends greatly on the source...with some budgeting and planning most funding is good to live on (details on funding are generally included in the 'advert' for the post). Re going into full time work...after by undergrad I did my MSc by research on a part-time basis whilst working full time. I learnt a lot from my work experience (even though not directly related to my research area), and I would not change the way I did things. In my opinion do not do a PhD simply to get a better job, more pay or the 'Dr.' at the end. Do it because you are really interested in the subject...you have 3 years 'stuck' reading, experimenting and finding out about this particular area. GOOD LUCK however

Hey, I was in similar shoes when i was on placement, I thought about doing a PhD but I wasn't sure what it really involves, it wasn't until I was doing my research project in the second semester which changed my view completely. I loved my research project topic and the whole “research” experience. I loved every minute of it, it was just so satisfying and I had more questions to answer and I just wanted to carry on!! So I spoke to my project supervisor about phds in general and fortunate for me, he managed to secure funding for a PhD and I have just started my PhD 2 months ago working in the same area as my undergrad project with the same supervisor. If you are doing medical sciences, your final year modules probably includes a research project which would give u a good insight into the field of research.

Im doing my PhD in the biomedical science area, from my experience so far doing a PhD is completely different from being an undergrad. First of all, the lecturers treat you like a staff rather than student. We are expected to treat it like a full time job and be in 9-5, but there is flexibility, you manage you own time, plan and conduct your own experiments. I get 26 days off a year and all public and bank holidays and so its similar to a job. The typical amount funded by the research cancer is 13,590 a year (tax free). What I have found is that I get paid more than while I was on placement and I can live quite comfortable, but it does on location and rent (which takes the most out of your wage). But the exact amount of funding depends on who is funding your project. 

I agree with Aillicec that you do a PhD because you are interested in the subject area as you will end up spending 3 years of your life researching in that particularly area. In my opinion I do think it is beneficial to become specialised, especially if you want a career in that same area of research. Hope this is useful and good luck =)

Thankyou all so much for your advice. Its really helped giving me an idea of what life is like when doing a PhD. I understand what you mean, about having a real interest in the research area rather than just doing it for the Dr title/career prospects etc, and I am indeed very interested, however a part of me was still worried about how I would survive financially for the three years, and whether I could manage comfortably not going straight into full time work. However, from what you've said the funding seems very similar to what I currently earn on placement, and being tax free I'm sure I'll cope fine :)
One other thing...is it common practice to do your PhD at another university rather than the one where you studied as an undergraduate?
I am tempted to move somewhere completely different, and get as much out of the experience as I possibly can, however I have commitments in my current area, and so it feels right for me to stay put. Any advice?

Hey! There's always a bit of a debate on here about whether it's important to move unis or stay put. On the plus side, moving gives you chance to work in a new setting with new people etc, which is good experience, but then you don't necessarily know what you are letting yourself in for! I have stayed put for my BSc, MSc, PhD and am applying for funding for a post-doc all at the same uni, simply because I am in the best place for my subject, working with the best people in my subject. It would be crazy for me to move when I'm so happy here and when I'm doing so well here- I can't imagine moving would be anything but a let-down (but then maybe that's rather narrow minded of me!). So it's a personal thing really- you need to think about how happy you are where you are and what you would gain from moving, and do the best thing for you. If you want to stay put then I wouldn't worry about it, as long as it's for the right reasons! Best, KB

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According to my experience, doing a PhD is completely different from being an undergrad.

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Hey,

First off, congratulations on being in the position to start a PhD. That in itself is a good achievement. I decided to go down the route of a PhD, but I think there were plenty of reasons floating about my mind that made me worried if I was making the right choice.

For example, was I doing it because everyone else I knew was doing it? Was I doing it because it was the easier option? At the time these thoughts were really playing on my conscience. But, now, I realise that as long as you have the passion for the subject, you can feel justified in opting for a PhD no matter what other reasons were going on in your head.

I'm finding life as a PhD really fulfliling. Kind of like life as a student only without the hardships of no wage. I'm writing a blog ( www.indoctorate.co.uk ) on all the fun sides to a PhD just now as well as an article which is actually exactly all to do with your question, http://www.helium.com/items/2057057-why-do-a-phd There are around 20 other articles there that would hopefully be of use to you as well. I think the being an authority of any subject makes the cause very worth while.

Hope that helps :-)

I did a help webpage on the issue some six years ago now as I was asked similar by quite a few students after I finished. I just said, look at my webpage / blog to save me repeating myself.

Here it is (I never deleted it):

http://www.wearthesis.talktalk.net

I donno if it is common practice to do your phd at another university, but there are pros and cons doing a phd at the same uni. I have friends including myself who are doing a phd at the same uni as their ungrad, on the other hand i also have a friend who is doing a phd at a different uni. It would be nice to go to a different uni and experience student life in a different city, but if the uni facilities and supervisor isnt as good as you expected, you will be disappointed. When i was applying for phds, my current supervisor (who was also my under grad project supervisor) hinted out that supervisors are important, as you will be working with them for min. of 3 years you need to be able to get along. One reason i stayed at the same uni, is i enjoyed working with my supervisor, and he was fantastic! if he was rubbish no matter how good the project/uni is, i personally wouldnt have bother applying.

If you have commitments in your current area, it might be worth staying put, plus the advantage of doing it at your own uni is that you know the supervisors, environment etc. and you will be able to settle in quicker than external students. Sorry im not sure if i hav given u any helpful tips.

Thankyou all so much for your advice. It really does help to get an insight from people who are currently doing a PhD.
I'm definately decided to study one now, and am feeling more convinced that staying at my current university is not only a convienience due to my commitments in the area, but also a great benefit to me whilst studying.
Thanks again =)